Go ahead, ask for a holiday

How do you ask for time off without jeopardizing your job or reputation as a hard worker?Photo by
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Asking for vacation time can take courage. It's uncomfortable to ask for time off - so we tend to put it off. Worries abound - what will the boss think if I ask for two weeks? What if someone moves in on my position when I'm not there to defend it? Will the team think I'm lazy or uncommitted?

Yet, summer is approaching fast and putting the conversation off too long may backfire. You may be too late to get the dates you want or risk not getting a vacation at all.

Time off is important to staff performance and well-being. Vacations are known to increase productivity and creativity. Getting away from email, voicemail and texts, frantic schedules and the grind is good for staff and organizations alike.

So, how do you ask for time off without jeopardizing your job or reputation as a hard worker?

There are seven ways to ask for a vacation: . Prepare yourself properly for the conversation: Check out what you are entitled to when it comes to time off. Ensuring that you know what you are allowed or expected to take is key. Visit your human resources department, check the employee handbook and - if you work in a small organization - talk to colleagues about the way the company handles vacation requests.

- Analyze your workload: Think like the boss. When is your busy time? Plan your vacation dates for times when things are less hectic. Can your organization spare you during the days you want off? If you must have dates off when it's busy, think about how you'll cover for yourself.

- Think about your colleagues' workloads: If the time you hope to ask for coincides with your teammates days off or their busy times, you may want to think about how to accommodate them, too. If it's not possible, consider how you can offer to be available when they need a holiday. A bit of reciprocity can go a long way.

- Talk to your partner or spouse early: Your partner or spouse will probably have to engage in the same preparation process as you have at your workplace. You'll need to analyze each other's workloads, workplace needs and generate a variety of dates that will work for both of you and your respective organizations. Starting planning early is even more important when you are juggling so many different needs.

- Generate a few options: It's time to choose some optional dates. Pick several times that may work, so that there is a choice. Some you'll prefer more than others, but coming up with a few ideas will improve your chances of getting close to what you want.

- Book a time to talk to your boss (or whoever looks after vacation time): Timing is everything. Book a meeting ahead of time. Exploding nervously into your boss's office and demanding time off will back fire. Book a time when your boss isn't harried and you are calm. Bring your request forward in a relaxed and reasonable way.

- Watch out for tone: You may be entitled to time off. It may be accrued or owed, or you may not have had a vacation in a while. Maybe you have been looked over for the plum vacation dates, in the past. All these factors are irritating and cause anxiety. But, demanding time off, even if it's yours, can rub the wrong way. Avoid being seen as entitled or heavy handed. Simply make your case, indicating the various dates that don't interfere with the workload too much and show that you considered the organization's needs, as well as those of your colleagues.

By appearing reasonable and managing feelings like, "They better give this to me, I deserve this," will get you further in the conversation.

. Prepare for a refusal or to get a second or third choice: It is disappointing to have done a lot of preparation to be told: "No, the times won't work." But this does happen.

. If this occurs, consider your options. You can accept the verdict and ask that next time you be given a bit more leeway? Or, you can suggest that you'll talk to a colleague to get coverage and you'll ensure everything is organized and the colleague is ready, before you go.

Either way, ensure that you politely explore what is unworkable about the dates you have proposed. See if you can create a solution together with your boss. Be careful not to book your holiday before getting the go ahead.

Dr. Jennifer Newman is a registered psychologist and director of Newman Psychological and Consulting Services Ltd., a Vancouver-based corporate training and development company.

Identifying information in cases cited has been changed to protect confidentiality. Dr. Newman can be contacted at: info@drjennifernewman.com

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